Betrayed By The Billionaire

63

Nora’s words lingered in the air, stirring a sudden, sharp urge in Chloe to cry.

Why do people have to change?

If things could just stay the same, how wonderful would it be? But Chloe’s sorrow wasn't for her own past or for the man who had abandoned her; it was for Nora. She could see with painful clarity that the marriage between Nora and Nicholas was fracturing. The foundation of trust they had built over seven years was being tested by fire, and Nora’s haunting question was the sound of a heart breaking.

After Nora drove away, Chloe walked toward the flamboyant red Bugatti, her mind heavy with worry. Suddenly, a figure blocked her path. She looked up into the refined, handsome face of Liam Martin. Sara stood beside him, looking fragile and pale. It turned out their cars were parked side-by-side.

Chloe didn't grant them a single word. As she approached, the Bugatti’s doors swiveled open. She slid into the driver’s seat, noting Vince settled silently behind her. Without a moment's hesitation, she floored it. The low, guttural roar of the engine echoed through the silent parking garage as she vanished into the night.

Liam stood frozen, a cold dread pooling in his stomach. If he remembered correctly, that limited-edition Bugatti was the only one in River City—and it belonged to Xavier Grayson.

Why is Chloe driving it? What happened while I was away?

Before he could process the panic rising in his chest, Sara suddenly collapsed beside him, slipping into a dead faint. "Sara! Sara!"

On the drive back, Chloe couldn't shake Nora’s voice. What was it that changed people? Was it the allure of wealth? The weight of power? Or just the shallow craving for something new?

"Madam, the car ahead... I believe that is Master Xavier’s," Vince said suddenly from the back.

Chloe looked up. A silver Lamborghini was cruising in the distance. She accelerated until she was side-by-side with the supercar, catching a glimpse of Xavier’s sharp, stoic profile. He glanced at her briefly, his eyes filled with his habitual disdain.

A sudden flare of defiance ignited in Chloe. She rolled down the window and called out, "Xavier! How about a race?"

Xavier didn't respond, looking as though competing with her was beneath him. Chloe felt a sting of disappointment and jerked the steering wheel toward the professional racing circuit on the outskirts of the city. She assumed he wouldn't follow.

But minutes later, a silver streak blurred past her. The Lamborghini roared onto the track ahead of her, claiming the lead.

Chloe’s eyes lit up with a competitive fire she hadn't felt in weeks. "Vince, hold on tight!"

She slammed the pedal to the floor. The Bugatti screamed as it surged forward, pulling level with the Lamborghini. As they hit the first straightaway, Chloe flashed a brilliant, daring grin at Xavier and executed a flawless, high-speed drift around the first bend.

Xavier watched the red Bugatti dancing ahead of him with a flicker of genuine admiration. He had to admit—her control was surgical.

She held the lead for four grueling laps, her focus unbreakable. But on the fifth lap, Xavier stopped testing her. He pushed the Lamborghini to its absolute limit, threading the needle through a narrow gap and roaring past her just as they crossed the finish line.

The two cars came to a synchronized halt, the engines ticking as they cooled. Chloe climbed out, her hair windswept, her face flushed with adrenaline. For the first time since the wedding, the heavy weight on her chest had lifted.

"You're fast," she admitted, breathless but smiling.

Xavier adjusted his cuffs, his eyes unreadable. "You're not bad. But in a real race, 'not bad' gets you killed. Remember that for tomorrow."

Tomorrow was the Bishop Group board meeting. Chloe had found her spirit again on the racetrack. She was no longer just a victim of a broken engagement; she was a Grayson, and she was ready for war.